Workforce

The latest news and analysis on the school workforce in the UK and at international schools, including teacher recruitment, retention and shortage subjects

Thursday

17th Apr 2025

Music education: how can we hit the right notes with staff shortages?
Music is well-placed to bounce back from falling student numbers but to do so it needs more teachers – and that means changing the narrative, says this trust music director
Broken keys on piano

Wednesday

16th Apr 2025

More school support staff not being paid for extra hours
The working conditions of support staff ‘continue to deteriorate’ due to the underfunding of schools, says NEU boss in response to new research
Women clocking into work

Tuesday

15th Apr 2025

Which subjects are losing and gaining teachers in Scotland?
The number of teachers registered in Scotland fell in 2024, finds a GTCS analysis, with subjects including German and computing among the hardest hit
Which subjects are losing and gaining teachers in Scotland?
Large MATs are ‘havens for higher workload’, says NEU boss
It is a ‘myth’ that academies are more attractive to teachers because they offer more flexibility on pay and working conditions, says Daniel Kebede
Man sitting at desk with loads of papers

Monday

14th Apr 2025

Rise of primary teachers in secondary ‘undermines registration’
Scotland’s inspectorate should check that teachers are teaching at their registered level, says union that warns staff shortages are ‘blurring’ teacher registration categories
Secondary school teacher in classroom
Workload Around the World: No Monday morning deadlines
An international school leader in the UAE talks about how he manages staff workload to avoid a ‘live to work’ mindset creeping in
Workload Around the World Ajman UAE

Saturday

12th Apr 2025

1 in 3 primary teachers have ‘little or no influence’ on lesson content
Standardised curriculum packages are ‘imposed’, have ‘no meaningful workload gains’ and can lead teachers to quit, NEU report finds
A new report shows the impact of standardised curriculum packages on teachers.

Friday

11th Apr 2025

4 ways Labour can drive teacher recruitment
With the government pledging to recruit 6,500 new teachers, it needs to focus on more flexibility and better representation, argues Dame Alison Peacock
Honey bee on flower

Thursday

10th Apr 2025

More than half of secondary leaders made staff cuts this year
Many schools are ‘rapidly heading toward breaking point’, warns Sutton Trust as it releases new poll findings
Teacher made redundant

Friday

4th Apr 2025

Northern Irish teachers accept 5.5% pay offer
Revised offer accepted by unions in Northern Ireland includes a pay rise, averts strikes and has secured an independent review on workload
Northern Irish teachers accept 5.5 per cent pay offer

Thursday

3rd Apr 2025

Phillipson: More male teachers needed to combat ‘toxic’ influences
Education secretary’s appeal to address online influences on boys comes as children’s commissioner warns of a ‘crisis in childhood’
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson says recruiting more male teachers will help to tackle misogyny

Monday

31st Mar 2025

Workload Around the World: Online Fridays and 4.30pm finishes
A leader in Kenya discusses the practical steps his school has taken to ensure that staff have a manageable workload and a culture of leaving on time
Teacher workload in international schools: Flexible working at a school in Kenya